Bug FAQDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia definita · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Source: Wikipedia
Males have a wingspan of about 30 mm, while females do not develop wings at all. The larvae feed on a variety of trees and shrubs such as willow, oak, basswood, elm, birch, red maple, and witch-hazel.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of about 30 mm; females are wingless.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on leaves of willow, oak, basswood, elm, birch, red maple, and witch-hazel.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to eastern North America, ranging from Minnesota eastward to New Brunswick and south to the Gulf states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 35 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, Alabama, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How big are the adult moths?
Males have a wingspan of about 30 mm, while females do not develop wings.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on the leaves of willow, oak, basswood, elm, birch, red maple, and witch-hazel.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgyia_definita
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.